Engine Oil Cooler

This procedure covers the removal and replacement of the engine oil cooler on the 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 with the 5.3L EcoTec3 L83 V8 engine, including coolant and oil system drainage.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Engine oil cooler assembly × 1 — ACDelco 12677836 or equivalent
• Oil cooler gasket/seal kit × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Engine oil filter × 1 — ACDelco PF48 or equivalent
• Coolant hose clamps × 2 — As needed if damaged

Fluids

• ACDelco dexos1 0W-20 — 8.5 qt
• ACDelco DEX-COOL (Orange) — 2 qt

Preparation

1. Ensure engine is completely cool to the touch
2. Park vehicle on level surface and engage parking brake
3. Disconnect negative battery cable
4. Remove engine cover by pulling upward on the cover - it is retained by clips
5. Position drain pans under oil pan and radiator drain locations
6. Gather all tools, parts, and fluids before beginning

Procedure

1. 1

   Drain engine coolant
   Locate the radiator drain petcock on the driver's side lower corner of the radiator. Place drain pan underneath and open the petcock by turning counterclockwise. Drain approximately 2 quarts of coolant or until draining slows significantly. Close the petcock finger tight.
   Torque spec

   Drain Petcock8 Nm (6 lb-ft)
2. 2

   Drain engine oil
   Remove the oil drain plug from the oil pan using appropriate socket. Allow oil to drain completely into drain pan. Once drained, reinstall drain plug (torque specification not provided - tighten to manufacturer specification). Remove the oil filter and allow additional oil to drain.
3. 3

   Access the oil cooler assembly
   The oil cooler is located on the driver's side of the engine block, near the oil filter housing. From under the vehicle, identify the oil cooler assembly which has coolant lines running to it. Clean the area around the oil cooler to prevent contamination.
4. 4

   Disconnect coolant lines
   Using hose clamp pliers or flathead screwdriver, loosen the hose clamps on both coolant lines connected to the oil cooler. Slide the clamps back away from the connection points. Gently twist and pull the coolant hoses off the oil cooler fittings. Have a drain pan ready as residual coolant will drain out. Plug hose ends with clean rags if needed.
   Torque spec

   Hose Clamps3 Nm (2 lb-ft)
5. 5

   Remove oil filter adapter connection
   The oil cooler connects to the oil filter adapter housing. Identify the mounting bolts securing the oil cooler to the engine block. There are typically two bolts holding the oil cooler assembly in place. Clean around the bolt heads before removal.
6. 6

   Remove oil cooler mounting bolts
   Using appropriate socket, remove the oil cooler mounting bolts. Keep track of bolt locations as they may be different lengths. Support the oil cooler as you remove the final bolt to prevent it from falling.
   ⚠Residual oil will drain from the cooler ports when removed. Have drain pan positioned to catch oil.
   Torque spec

   Mounting Bolts34 Nm (25 lb-ft)
7. 7

   Remove oil cooler assembly
   Carefully pull the oil cooler assembly away from the engine block. Twist gently if needed to break the gasket seal. Remove the old gasket/O-rings from both the oil cooler and the engine block mounting surface. Clean all mating surfaces thoroughly with shop towels - surfaces must be completely clean and free of old gasket material and oil residue.
8. 8

   Install new gaskets and prepare new oil cooler
   Install new gaskets or O-rings onto the new oil cooler assembly according to the gasket kit instructions. Lightly lubricate the gaskets with clean engine oil to aid installation and prevent tearing. Verify all sealing surfaces on the new oil cooler are clean.
9. 9

   Install new oil cooler
   Position the new oil cooler assembly onto the engine block, carefully aligning the mounting holes and coolant ports. Ensure gaskets remain properly seated during installation. Start both mounting bolts by hand to ensure proper thread engagement.
   Torque spec

   Mounting Bolts34 Nm (25 lb-ft)
10. 10

    Reconnect coolant lines
    Clean the coolant hose ends and oil cooler fittings. Slide the coolant hoses onto the oil cooler fittings, pushing firmly until they seat completely. Position the hose clamps over the connection points and tighten securely.
    Torque spec

    Hose Clamps3 Nm (2 lb-ft)
11. 11

    Install new oil filter
    Lubricate the new oil filter gasket with clean engine oil. Thread the new oil filter onto the filter housing by hand, turning until the gasket contacts the mounting surface, then tighten an additional 3/4 turn by hand. Do not over-tighten.
12. 12

    Refill engine oil
    Using a funnel, add 8.0 quarts of ACDelco dexos1 0W-20 engine oil through the oil filler cap. Install the oil filler cap. Check the oil level with the dipstick and adjust as needed to reach the full mark.
13. 13

    Refill coolant system
    Remove the coolant surge tank cap. Add approximately 2 quarts of ACDelco DEX-COOL orange coolant to the surge tank to replace what was drained. Fill to the COLD FILL line on the surge tank. Install the surge tank cap.
14. 14

    Bleed cooling system and check for leaks
    Reconnect the negative battery cable. Start the engine and allow it to idle. Monitor the oil pressure gauge to ensure normal pressure. Watch for any coolant or oil leaks around the oil cooler connections. Run the engine until the cooling fans cycle on, indicating the thermostat has opened. Shut off the engine and allow to cool for 10 minutes. Recheck coolant level in the surge tank and add as needed to the COLD FILL line.
    ⚠If oil pressure does not register within 5 seconds of starting, immediately shut off engine and investigate.

Reassembly

1. Reinstall engine cover by aligning clips and pressing down firmly until it clicks into place
2. Double-check all hose clamps and connections for tightness
3. Verify no tools or materials were left in the engine compartment
4. Clean up any spilled fluids from under the vehicle and engine bay

Verification

• Check oil level on dipstick with engine off - should read at FULL mark
• Check coolant level in surge tank - should be at COLD FILL line when cool
• Start engine and verify oil pressure is normal within 3-5 seconds
• Inspect all oil cooler connections for leaks while engine is running
• Allow engine to reach operating temperature and verify no coolant leaks
• After first test drive, recheck oil and coolant levels and inspect for leaks
• Monitor oil and coolant levels over the next few days to ensure no slow leaks are present

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